Holekamp/Turner Grant Recipient Fleeceworks Royal 14th After Dressage at Le Lion d'Angers

Judith McSwain’s “Rory” earned these funds to travel to Le Lion d’Angers after being the highest-placed 2014 Young Event Horse (YEH) graduate who qualified for this Championship as a 7-year-old. The grant, backed by Dr. Tim and Cheryl Holekamp and Christine Turner, aims to encourage U.S.-based breeding and training of young horses.

Ridden by Tamie Smith, the American-bred Holsteiner mare earned a score of 51.3 to sit in the middle of the pack.

Rory and her fan club after dressage. Photo by Libby Law. 

“I was thrilled with her; she was super and I'm so proud of her. She was all business in her test. Her canter work was super and her trot work was where she is in her strength right now,” Smith said. “I was a bit disappointed about scoring a 51, but we are at the 7-year-old Breeding World Championships, so being just six points from the lead is ok. Looking forward to Saturday!”

Also competing in the 7-year-old championship is Betawave (Linaro x Wavelength), another graduate of the YEH program. “Leta” is a Holsteiner mare, owned by her breeder, Carol Singh, and rider, Robyn Fisher. She and Fisher earned 62.5 penalty points.

Currently leading the 7-year-old class is Dr. Susanna Kleindienst’s Vally K, a Hanoverian mare by Valentino and out of Fria. Charlotte Dobretsberger, who rides for Austria, sit on 45.2 points going into to the jumping phases. Second-placed Chillis Gem isn’t far behind with Gemma Tattersall on a score of 45.9. The British Sport Horse is by the legendary eventer Chilli Morning and out of Kings Gem.

After the success of the 2015 grant, young event horse supporters were thrilled to see two horses that are not only American-produced, but also American-bred competing against the best of the world at Le Lion d'Angers. 

Find the scores here.